Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

Press Release WILD WITH HEART Peter van der Linden is a member of a nationwide motorcycle forum – The Wild Dogs Adventure Riders ( www.wilddog.za.net ). These are men and women who share a passion for exploring the wilderness and an equal enthusiasm for riding their hardy metal steeds off-road. From the outset, charity causes have been close to the member’s hearts, in fact they have set up a dedicated charity called PAW to help preserve the Wild Dog in Namibia. So it’s no surprise that members readily came to the assistance of one extraordinary courageous lady. Ilze Botha is paralysed from the waist down, due to a tragic slip of the scalpel during a routine ear operation in 1989. Despite her physical disability, Ilze continues to live a normal life and approaches each day in much the same way as any able bodied person. She is married to Arno Botha. My husband, Peter had the fortune to meet Ilze at her place of work – Frontosa in Montagu Gardens, one of his suppliers. He was so impressed always by her cheerful demeanour and over the months they became friends. During one of his frequent visits to Frontosa, it transpired that her wheelchair was in dire need of repair, but funds were tight. To give you some idea, each tyre on the wheel chair retails on average at a staggering R1000 each!! Peter immediately posted a thread on the Wild Dog Forum about Ilze’s plight, and how a bunch of two wheel fanatics could come to the aid of someone who relied on her wheels constantly by raising funds to repair her wheelchair at a nominal cost to all. The response was immediate and the member’s generosity was astounding. Over R5000 was donated from members countrywide! This meant that her chair repairs could be done with ease, as well as upgrading certain components. Ilze was staggered as to why total strangers would be so generous to her. But that’s the spirit that permeates throughout this forum. The story doesn’t end there. The Wild Dog Members then decided to give Ilze a day to remember and offered to take her for a day’s ride as a pillion to experience the freedom of exploring some of South Africa’s country where ordinary four wheels can’t easily get to. Before her disability happened she used to occasionally ride as a pillion and remembered the thrill of it, so without blinking she just said let’s do it!! Her husband Arno is also backing her 100%. After much discussion on the forum it was decided that this coming Saturday 22 November would be ideal, as over 100 Wild Dog Members are planning a weekend away at the Breede river. The bike that Peter will be riding with Ilze - a BMW 1200GS - has kindly been supplied for the day by Biketique in Diep Rivier, as a fellow Wild Dog member who’s nickname is– FreakonaLeash (or Marius Burger) works there. They will be meeting at the show room tomorrow Friday 21 November at 12.30pm to make sure that Ilze will be comfortable on her journey and to ensure that she has the correct safety gear. Contact Tel: 073 157 1168. They aim to set off bright and early on Saturday morning and reach their destination, the Rivierplaas just outside of Worcester on the banks of the Brede river at approx 10am and meet up with the rest of the Wild Dogs over a braai. Look out for the riders on Sat and especially Ilze and Peter on their way – and give them a toot as the pass by? Her husband Arno will be accompanying the members with his back up vehicle. Biketique